Chapter 375: What Were You Thinking?
Mom's face told me everything I needed to know. Sure, she'd been all official and supportive when the Enforcers were around, when the Council demanded an emergency meeting and we were presented as heroes, my friends and me. But now, hours later, in the wee dawn of an approaching new day with no one around to see it, she didn't look happy.
Nope. Not happy at all.
"What were you thinking?" She faced down Uncle Frank first, shaking she was so furious.
"We did what we had to do," he said.
"This was none of your business." Mom slashed the air with one hand, face mottled red, shoulders so tight I was worried she might snap in half.
"Wrong." Sunny stepped forward, cold and beautiful. "This was every bit our business. Those vampires are our responsibility."
Mom drew a breath. "Fine, perhaps them." She glared back and forth between them. "But you had no right dragging Syd into this mess with you."
"They are here because I asked them to come." I stared her down. Two could play this game. "They're right. This was every bit their situation to handle as it was ours."
I stressed ours. Hoped for a flicker of guilt from her.
Got one.
"We will take custody of the Wilhelm vampires now," Sunny said. "They will remain with us until our blood clan leader decides their fate."
Mom looked like she wanted to argue. The Council had, in fact, done just that, fought against the DeWinter clan's right to claim them. But Mom had to know Sunny and Frank took precedence.
"Fine," she snapped. "Get them away from my campus and out of my hair. I have enough problems."
Sunny nodded brusquely. "Trust me," she said, voice still chilly, "we have no desire to trouble you further."
She flickered into shadow and vanished, though Uncle Frank lingered. "You know, if it hadn't been for Syd, this whole thing could have turned into something much bigger. Something no one could handle."
"I was well aware of the situation," Mom said. Paused. "Not the details, no," she admitted. "But I had things under control. Then the pack of you," she pointed at Charlotte, Sassafras at my feet, and me, "had to run off like vigilantes and make a mess of things."
"We made a mess?" I shook my head, struggling to understand. "What?"
Ameline was the mess maker. I cleaned it up, thanks.
Correction. We.
Mom scowled at me so harshly I barely recognized her. "There are protocols here, Sydlynn," she snapped. "And Enforcers I employ to take care of such matters." She took a step back, one hand pressed to her forehead. "You could have been killed. Have you thought of that?"
"While you were compiling your facts and putting together your strategy," Sassafras snapped, "Ameline Benoit was gathering power. Enough power she almost succeeded in her goals this time. This time." He shook his furry head. "Honestly, Miriam."
Uncle Frank's handsome face darkened as he chopped one hand through the air, much like Mom had, as if cutting her off. "Don't bother trying, Sass," he said, voice full of bitterness. "Miriam's turned into a bureaucrat. She doesn't understand taking action any more. Or the meaning of thank you."
Before Mom could say anything, he, too, vanished.
Oh, stop it, Gram's voice cut in as Mom turned to me with her mouth open and clearly some strong words on her tongue. Your girl saved your ass, daughter mine, and you know it.
Stay out of this, Mother, Mom snapped.
I won't, Gram shot back. Syd did everything right. Everything. She's a coven leader. You made her one. Time to treat her like she has a clue what she's doing.
I was about to thank Gram when her attention spun on me. And you, she growled in a tight thread I knew only I could hear, if you ever, ever, scare me like that again, I'll kill you myself.
Now, Gram's power took the both of us and shook us a little. Time to focus on what matters. Like that little bitch, Ameline, and what she has up her nasty sleeves next. Because you can bet she's not done.
Not until she's dead, I sent.
Mom nodded sharply. I know my duty, Mother.
Do you? Gram sighed. I wonder.
I missed her when she was gone. Especially because I was now pretty much alone with Mom.
"You need to learn to let me handle these things." She wasn't about to back down on the issue, clearly. Which meant Gram was right. I had to show her I was capable. But that would have to wait. If it ever happened. Likely she'd never really understand.
"What are you going to do about Ameline?" One thing was for sure, I had to keep the pressure on Mom. No going complacent. No Council committee to look into the matter. Ameline had to be tracked and put down like an animal.
I was happy to volunteer for the hunting party.
"I said leave that to me." Mom turned away from me. "You're threatening everything I've worked so hard to build the last several months." She spun back, but didn't look any happier, if less angry. "I'm trying to teach the covens working together is the best option. And then you run off when I had a group working on the issue. You pretty much proved to them you're dangerous."
"I'm dangerous?" I couldn't help the bark of laughter, and from the hiss and snarl I heard from Sassafras I wasn't the only one who had the same reaction. "You can't be serious."
"Think about it, Syd," she said. "You're not only part demon, you're Sidhe and now have the essence of all vampires living inside you. You're so powerful you can defeat a blood magic user." I almost protested and said it wasn't me until I realized she was right.
The vampire was me now.
Well, cool. Wasn't it?
"I'm already under immense pressure," Mom said. "I don't need one of my coven leaders turning into a Wild West cowboy whenever she feels the need for revenge."
Okay, I had to leave. Had to. Mom so didn't get it, didn't want to, I guess. Wasn't seeing things clearly. And if I didn't get the hell out of there, I was going to say and do some things from which our relationship might never recover.
"The Council, the other covens, can think what they want," I said, keeping my voice as cool and calm as I could. "But the law states I am a coven leader, autonomous. I obey the laws, Council Leader. I do my job. I protect my coven and the lives of the normals I interact with. Nothing I did was from revenge, but from my duty to protect my coven." I paused, a fist of stress in my stomach. "And I'm horrified you would ever think otherwise."
Mom's gasp told me I'd hit the mark, but when she called after me, her tone had changed completely.
"Syd." Soft. Almost kind. "Please, don't go like this. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know you're doing your best."
My best. Wow. Great apology.
"Syd." Her hand settled on my shoulder. How she'd crossed the room so fast I had no idea, but I didn't unwind when she touched me. Her deep sigh did nothing for me either. "There's something we have to talk about."
"What?" What else? I didn't think I could take much more. Not from her. Not tonight.
This morning. Oh, hell.
"Quaid." Yeah, that conversation was going to happen. But what Mom said next wasn't what I was expecting. "I received a formal request from him. To join the Enforcers."
What remained of my heart was smothered in the chill of the only emotion I could muster as I swallowed my hurt and anger and grief in detachment.
"Thanks for letting me know."
I left, shrugging off her hand, sliding into the veil the moment I could.
***
